Who Am I Lyrics

Who is chief?

My birth name is Michael

It means he who is like God

So there's a hint of heaven in every word I write

We shall all be blessed tonight Amen?

But who am I?

With one brother in corrections and the other in a casket I am my mama's only child

I am the only child my father didn't raise

Pen pencil and a page have been more of a parent than papa but let the stone roll where it may

Real life irony my father's last name is Rolle

But who am I?

I'm a masterpiece in the making

I'm a poet so I can make things up like I'm extrovertedly introverted

Which means I can be the life of the party or just not go to it

I am an alcoholic who's never been drunk a day in his life

I get punched drunk off punch lines so hit me with your best

verse and not shot because black men don't come back from those

I am an unprepared eulogy at my brother's funeral

I am still living with that regret

I am last month's rent with next week's check

I am Ricky and Bobby first and last

I am the haves and have nots

I am made it home safe from the traffic stop but still hashtag waiting to happen

I am can't kneel or stand for my rights

I am hands up and polite and still knee on neck or bullet in back

I am both miracle and menace

You say it's a life sentence in this skin?

I say it's a win

My melanin be sliced bread and pants with pockets

The best thing since been since been

My mama named me Michael Jermaine

You only know me as my AKA

And this is the part where I hit you with a gun bar but with one brother gunned and the other one

barred I've learned to stay away from them both

I am the truth in a world full of lies

I am Big Mama's eyes and Granddaddy's nose

I am the generational curse and gift

I am a combination of lift every voice and sing

And in the words of Crime Mob as quoted by Urban Negro Philosopher Charlemagne the God

I am always ready to knuck if they buck

I am LL's I need love and mama said knock you out

I am Martin's dream and Malcolm's by any means

I am part lover part wish a nigga would

I am paradox and oxymoron

You know kind of like the hate y'all give LeBron but love y'all give R Kelly

I am what comes from the belly of the beast

I am the beast and the beauty within him

I am as good as it gets but not good enough

I am confidence cloaked in insecurity but I'm alive to tell my story

My head high my smile full and my mama still proud of me

I am winning I am the win within the loss

I am the beginning and the end still writing the chapters in the middle

I am the shoe on the wrong foot but step in the right direction

I am the broken mirror for little black boys to see their reflection

I am the dream they see from the windowsill in the project

I am the project projected not to make it

I am the one in the family who made it yet still trying to make it

First to graduate college but last to have a family

Hella macho and manly but I cry damn near daily

I am the hell yeah let's get it and the um I don't know maybe

This is who I am and I'm still learning

I'm still learning to love me

I am still

I am learning

I am love

I am me